Troping Through the Snow by Alexa Riley

“Enough, Tinsel,” I snap, feeling the anger course through me. “It’s enough.”

“I thought you’d fuck me a few more times before ending things, but I see how it is.” She goes to walk away, and I grab her hand to stop her.

“What?” Now my anger is melting into confusion. “What are you talking about?”

“All of this.” She waves her hands, and I see tears in her eyes. “You know what I was thinking when I was in there with Carol?” Before I have a chance to answer, she keeps going. “I was thinking, what if I’m pregnant and I have to do this alone like she is? What if my baby has a father that keeps them at a distance until one day, bam, they finally decide they’re worth it? I won’t do that to my child, Jack.”

The anger that I was feeling dissolves instantly at seeing Tinsel distressed, and I rethink all of what’s happened and why she ran out on me this morning.

“Our child,” I cut in, and she sniffs before she tries to say something again. “No, I’m not letting you run down a train of thought that is complete bullshit.” She blinks up at me, and I move in closer, pulling her body against mine. “I’ve wanted you from the moment I laid eyes on you, Tinsel. The very fucking moment. I kept my distance not because I didn’t want you but because I was afraid of losing you. I see that now, and I see how much fucking time I wasted because of it.”

There’s a spark of hope in her eyes, but she crushes it down quickly. “It doesn’t matter. It’s too late.” She shrugs, and I lean closer.

“You’re right, it is too late. It’s too late to go back to the way things were before. I’ve never touched a woman since that first time I saw you, Tinsel. Did you know that?”

“But…but what about all the—”

“No one.” My voice is filled with conviction as I gently cup her face. I’ve never been some big ladies’ man. I've always wanted what my parents had, but after losing them, I had a million other things to worry and think about. “There’s never been anyone but you for me, and I’m sorry I took so long to stop being afraid. The fear of never getting to hold you in my arms at night, or seeing you walk down the aisle wearing a white dress, or watching you rock our baby, or touching your hand as we watch our grandchildren play in the snow, is so much greater than my fear of losing you. My life without those things means nothing, Tinsel.”

“Jack.” She says my name softly as the tears fall, but I’m right there to wipe them away.

“There was part of me that was afraid of what North might say, but I realized that deep down, that wasn’t what was keeping me at a distance all those years. It was just an excuse so that I didn’t get hurt.”

She lets out a deep breath, and I feel her body relax against mine. It might be the first time that I’ve held her that her heart and mind are truly open.

“I love you, Tinsel. I’ve always loved you. You won’t ever have to worry about having our child on your own or getting rid of me. You can try all you want, but you won’t push me away. Unless you really do like the chase, in which case I can oblige on special occasions.” She laughs, and I bend down to press my lips to hers.

“I love you too,” she says between kisses, and my heart squeezes so tightly I think it might burst.

“Then it’s time to make this official,” I say as I take a step back, and she looks at me in confusion.

“What are you—” For the second time, her words are cut off as I kneel down in front of her.

“Marry me,” I say, and it’s not a question. “You’re already my better half, my best friend, my pride and joy, and my soul mate. Now I want you to be my wife too.”

“You know I could probably find a way to write you a ticket for this.” She sniffs as her smile widens, and she holds out her hand. “But let me check out the rock, and I might let it slide.”

“Good to know you’re open to bribes.” I kiss her finger before I take the ring out of my pocket and slide the large oval-shaped diamond onto her hand.

“Holy shit,” she says a little loud, and I look up at her, laughing.

“If I told you I bought this the day after we first met, would you think I was crazy?” I ask as I pull her against me while I’m still kneeling in the snow.

“I’d think you were crazy for having it all this time and acting like an asshole.”

“It’s a good thing you love me,” I say as I grab her ass with both hands.

“You’re so lucky.” Her smile is wicked as she presses her lips to mine and we officially seal our fate.





EPILOGUE





TINSEL





“What are you doing?!” I snap at Jack when he slips into the passenger seat of my cruiser.

Where did he even come from? I’d bet my life he has a tracker on me. I suppose it’s fair since I have one on his phone. Some might find it odd, but it’s not like we share a Facebook account or something. Jack doesn’t have social media, which is good because I would use it to stalk him harder.

“I could be asking you the same question,” he says. “I didn’t call the police, so technically you're trespassing.”

I glare at my fiancé, and he shrugs.